Chikungunya Cases Surge to 7,000 in China: What Are the Symptoms?

Light House Denver – Chikungunya cases in China have continued to rise sharply, particularly rapidly in the southern province of Guangdong. Since July, local authorities have reported over 7,000 infections, reflecting a rapidly escalating transmission trend in a short period of time.

In just the past week, nearly 3,000 new Chikungunya cases have been reported in the province. This surge has raised public concern due to the speed at which the mosquito-borne virus spreads.

WHO Warning and Government Emergency Response

The World Health Organization (WHO) had previously issued a global warning about the potential outbreak of Chikungunya. WHO urged all countries to take immediate action to prevent a recurrence of the Chikungunya epidemic that occurred two decades ago.

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The Chinese government responded swiftly with several preventive measures, including:

• Releasing thousands of larvae-eating fish into lakes
• Deploying drones to detect areas that could become mosquito breeding grounds
• Introducing large predatory mosquitoes in certain cities to hunt down virus-carrying mosquitoes

Infected patients are required to undergo isolation under mosquito nets. They are only allowed to return home once they test negative or after receiving treatment for seven days.

What Is the Chikungunya Virus?

According to the official website of Indonesia’s Ministry of Health, Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted through the bites of Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, the same mosquitoes that spread dengue fever.

This virus is commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions, especially during the rainy season or in areas with poor sanitation.

Chikungunya Symptoms to Watch Out For

Individuals infected with the Chikungunya virus may experience a range of symptoms, including:

• High fever
• Headache
• Fatigue or weakness
• Skin rash
• Joint and bone pain that can persist for months or even years

These symptoms usually appear within a few days after infection. However, in some cases, the infection may be asymptomatic, making it difficult to detect early.

Chikungunya infection generally progresses in three phases:

• Acute phase: lasts for several days
• Post-acute phase: occurs within 1–3 months after the acute stage
• Chronic phase: lasts more than 3 months and is marked by prolonged joint pain

Chikungunya Prevention Measures

As of now, no vaccine is available for Chikungunya. Therefore, the primary method of prevention is to avoid mosquito bites. Recommended preventive steps include:

• Regularly draining water containers
• Tightly covering water storage areas
• Recycling or disposing of unused items that can collect water
• Using mosquito repellent
• Installing mosquito screens or nets on windows and ventilation
• Ensuring drainage systems are not blocked
• Sprinkling abate powder in water storage containers

By following these practices, the risk of virus transmission can be significantly reduced.

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